L.A. police seek two in girl's kidnapping

Mar. 28, 2013
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A vehicle is dusted for prints in the driveway of a home on the 8800 block of Oakdale Avenue near Nordhoff Street Wednesday, in Northridge, Calif., where a 10-year-old girl disappeared during the night. / AP Photo/Mel Melcon, Los Angeles Times

by William M. Welch, @williammwelch,
USA TODAY

by William M. Welch, @williammwelch,
USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES â?? Investigators believe a 10-year-old girl snatched from her home in the middle of the night and released less than 12 hours later was abducted by someone she did not know and are seeking at least two men, police said Thursday.

"We're looking at this as a stranger abduction â?? one of those things that's very very rare in this country but does happen,'' Los Angeles Police Commander Andrew Smith said.

Police were not sure whether the girl or her family were targeted or selected at random by abductors and hope to get more information about the perpetrators when they interview the girl a second time, after she has rested, Smith said.

The red-haired girl, barefoot and wearing an oversize T-shirt, was found outside a strip mall in the San Fernando Valley shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, almost 12 hours after her family reported her missing to police and 6 miles from her home. Police said she had bruises and scrapes and appeared to be in shock after being dropped off by someone near a hospital.

Smith said the mother reported that she saw the girl last in her bedroom at 1 a.m. Wednesday, then was awakened by a "commotion" and found her missing around 3:45 a.m.

Smith said officers recovered a black pickup truck they believe may have been involved and searched a storage facility based on the girl's statements to investigators. He declined to say who owned the truck.

Police provided little description of the men they are seeking, beyond saying one of them appeared to be around 18 years old and caucasian, based on statements from the child.

Smith declined to provide details of what she told investigators happened during her abduction and urged news outlets not to identify her by name, citing her status as a minor and crime victim. He said she told police she was taken to several locations in different vehicles.

He said 20 Los Angeles Police Department detectives, assisted by the FBI, were pursuing the case. He said investigators were looking at registered sex offenders in the area for possible leads, as well as family, friends and Internet contacts.

"Obviously, this poor child has suffered a very traumatic event,'' Smith said.

Los Angeles police urged families to take regular precautions with their children, making sure doors and windows are locked at night, but said they do not have evidence this is part of a series of such crimes or that a serial kidnapper is on the loose.

"We don't have any other kidnappings of ... (children) snatched out of bed at night,'' Smith said.

However, he added, "until these two individuals are caught, we don't know what they are capable of.''

Police established a hotline for anyone with tips to call: 213-486-6890.